Mouthpiece for cornets



May 22, 1945.

J. RUETTIGER 2,376,453

MOUTHPIECE FOR CORNETS Filed July 17, 1943 INVENTOR.

M Arm/m5) v Patented May 22, 1945 ITED STATES PAT ENT FICTE "2,376,453Mon'rnemon FOB. loolmcazs Justinfkuettiger, New York, N. Y.

.. Application 51 1117,, 1943, fierial No.495fls43 This invention"relatesto mouthpieces forcornets, trumpets and the like.

The -object 'of the invention is to provide a structure in which thestream of air-is-controll'ed, and *in which the fundamental vibrationperiods and wave fronts are so directed that only sounds in distinctionto noises are produced when-the mouthpieceispIayedupon.Uncontrolledstreams of air emanating from *the lips setup whirls andthese influence the reflection of the vibrations. When vibrationperiodsare distorted, mo'ises are also "produced. The generally "recognizeddrequencies of sounds are upto about 2000 vibrations per second -(see'patent to R. F. Norr is, N0. 1;'72'6;'500,-of August 2 7, 1929) andthose of noises beyond 2009 to 4000 or -thereahouts. A ain, aproductionof harmonics adds to the beauty =of tones-inharmonics leave dissonant-or noisy impressions 'upontheea'r.

The invention consists of 'a mouthpiece in which directly contiguous tothe top off'the same or to the rim plane "a circular segment -'con'oidalportion receives the breath rrcmthe lips :and'directsthe streamofbreetthtu the bore of the stem in :a semi-circular path without eddyoom-ants, whirls or cross currents, when the breath is directed -from 'apoint about one-third the diameterofthe entrance boreof the'mouthp'iece. 'The curvature from this circular "segment "then continuesin *ogeecurve form intoa substantially-circul'ar segment, as'partof aconstantcurve termina'ting 'in the end of the *cup in its narrowestbore, the bore widening as known in "the stem. The first 'or-con'cavesegment corresponds to a radius -angle of about 60, and the second "orconvex segment to =a"radius an gle of from 330 to 45?, "followed by *aconstant curve. The meanin of a constant .curvehere, is a curve, whichchanges its radius of curvature "from point to point, until it "isparallel with "the axis of the cup at 'the end of said cup.

'Theadvantage of this construction is that the fundamental vibra'tionperiods and wave fronts are not distorted, that resonance is obtained bythe unobstructed and "free flowing stream .of air, and that successiveunimpeded compressions and vrare'fications are maintained through thecup and :stem .tobe amplified inlthe horn portion of the instrument.

The invention will be ,more .fully described hereinafter, embodimentsshown in the drawing, and the invention will be finally-pointed out inthe-claims.

In atheaaccomp nying drawing-- 7 Fig. :1 is a central section aof =myimproved mouthpiece cupi;

Fig.2 is a planwiew' thereof;

:Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing 0113 form of constructingthesame;

EEig. 4 :a diagrammatic vie'w showing emother dorm (of .constmdtingithe"same;

Ilig. 5 :a diagrammatic :plan :view;

.Fig. 1.6. is .a diagrammatic -.view showing :the .aotinnxof:therainstneam,'mhensemanating atzamoint about one=thind of the(entrance zbore diameter;

:Fig. '57 a diagmxnmaticpianwiewmfiigiii :and

Figs. 8, 9 and 1m are diagrammatic *views iOf the rmndamentaal vibrationsactiuns5setting mp inecompression and rareiactiomicoincidentwith-neflectedsspherical 'wave fronts of such rpe- Linda.

Similar characters :of reference indicate 4.001- respondingwpnrtsthroughout the'var'iousiviews.

Beierring to athe zd'rawing, andpmore particulanky tofFigs. 1 antiflptheimprouedrcup ornnonthpiece 410 ais :made aof the zusuai imetal, having:a suitable and usual ornamental cexterior :contnur M. 'iGentrally.thereof ism/hone havingianontour terminating at" thezpoint :as therend-zoi rt-he cup, :as at :12, sand the hose continues to the zend ofthe :s'tem I 8, 'whichllatter iis inserted into the bore of 22a ccnrnet,itrumpet, :etc., .flfldllhfild therein byirictional contact, aallxasknown. The improvement consists ;in directly at :the open aendof thecentral .borezpnoviding or circular segment :conoidal contour l5, whichrforms with anincular segment .sconoidal contour 2P6, an :ogee curve.Erom the rend of athissecond .curved nontour lflhe meritral more contour-.of the remaining part of the cup has a constantlcunve no the mart oftime smallest rdiameter, million is about at :the end roi the LORD (andlat "the ihesinning of the :stem. .It is important that .the firstcircular segment conoidal zporti'cn l'begins directly :at the :entranceplane :nf ithe rmuuthpiece. II zacylindrical bore he intenposed aslIJIODDSEd :by "the "prior art, .the principle to be referred towilljfindrno application. This pact :of the structure is essential.'Ilhe ssecond mart --of the rogee curve may The composed of )3, segmentcorresponding to an 1811818 of from 30 to :45", and "each anapproximating curve will be included, when such icurve forms part ofithe lconstant curve referred 1130. .rButthe' dominant first 1G1HV.Bmust begin :at the plane :of the cup :and :terminate at LabQ'llt:angularity from the center cof curvature, 'when such center is placed:about one-'ltliiitd the diameter of entrance .plane of the cup.

For .this zpnrnnse, cane .unannerrof constructing the anterior \nontcurnot :the :cup, :is :to determine upon :the desiredx'iiameter. Thesegeneral of standard sizes, ibllt players :prefer Lone .or ithe othersize."f1lhis determined upon diameter is then divided :intothree zparts,sand at tone-third distance irom Lthe aim at -20, :a :circle '21 with :aradius curvature 522 :of such lone-third distance is drawn. this circle'22l :-.intersects the merpendrcular :23 :to the diameter 24,, :at 25, a.scircle 1 28 with :isame radius us :drawn, and

section 3| with the same radius is used to draw a circle 32 from point21 to point 29, and this segment corresponds to 60 angularity. Here,one-half or from the point 21 to point 33 is the preferred curvature,and the curvature 33 to 29 may be used, or from the point 33, the

constant curve 34 can begin which terminates the end of the cup at 35.Or, the constant curve could begin at apoint 36, corresponding to 45from the point 21. It.will be seen that the interior of the bore contourbeginning at the plane 3"! of the cup at 38, and following a trulycircular curvature up to 21, then in ogee curve fashion continues in aconvex circular curvature to either 33, or 36, or 29, when it continuesin a constant curve to the end of the cup at 35.

Another form of construction is seen in Fig. 4. The tertiary points 20and 20a. are determined.

. A circle 40 with the third distance radius is drawn with point 20a asa center. The segment A desired ends at 43 which the radius 41 makes anangle with theplane 31. At an angle of 60 from the plane 31, the radius4| is extended a distance 42 equal to the radius 4|. The end of thisdouble radius from point 20a is used as a point and at the radius 42 acurve or segment B is drawn at an angle of 30 or 45, as desired, fromwhich corresponding points 43 and 44, the constant curve 34 is thendrawn to the end of the cup 35. It will be noted that the 30 line 46passes through the point 38 of the lip, and the 45 line, through thepoint 44a which corresponds to the point 44.

It will also be noted that both in Figs. 3 and 4, the perpendicular 23from the plane 31 to the point 48 in Figure 4, is the same length as thediameter 24, and that lines drawn from the lip points 38, to theperpendicular terminus 48 form an angle of 53.

It will be noted that the cup at its interior. at the plane 31 isslightly round to avoid a sharp corner, which would injure the lips, butthis fillet 49 does not form a cylindrical bore.

In Fig. 5, a plan view showing two circles 50 and 51 are shown drawnfrom the. teritiary points 20 and 20a.

The blower blows at any point along a circle 52, which. circle is alwaysone-third the diameter of the cup. The air flow enters at 20a, forexample, as seen in Fig. 6, the lips being shown by 53', and teeth by54. The arrows 55 show the air emanating from the mouth, and the airprojections strike the segment A and are deflected to semi-circularstream lines 56 and 51 as shown in Fig. 7. Some 58 enter the borelongitudinally. The stream lines 56 and 51 merge at the diametricallyopposite part of the cup at 59 and descend into the bore, as shown bestin Fig. 7. Other stream lines are deflected by segment B and graduallyenter the bore as shown by the deflecting lines 60 and arrows Bl.

In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are shown compression conditions 63 and B4 in Fig.8 at one-fourth of a fundamental vibration period, and rarefactionconditions 65 which merge into compression in 66 and rarefactions 61, inFig. 10,1at one-half vibration period, and rarefaction'conditions 68 andcompression 69 at three-fourths vibration period in Fig. 9, which resultin the same relationship as shown in Fig. 9 at the end of one vibrationperiod.

The spherical wave fronts emanating from the lips are deflected from thecircular segment A and form patterns much like those shown in Figs. 8and 10. The point of entrance always being at the radius distance of thecircular segment, the sphere of the front of the sound waves formedextends its sphere and the extended parts are reflected symmetrically.This is due to the fact that the concave circular segment portion of thecup designated A begins in the plane of the cup, and does not have anyintervening cylindrical or other portion. It is the circular segment Aportion when made as shown in the drawing that gives the result. A cupacting with resonance and in the production sounds without noises ordistorted vibration periods and wave fronts differs from the prior artcups in which noises or distorted vibration tones are produced.superposed waves without distortion produce harmonics. Thus, brilliancyof tone, musical sounds and resonant characteristics are produced.

It will have been noted that the invention comprises a cup of amouthpiece, for mouthpieces of all brass instruments, which has twocurvatures and its depth always related to its diameter. The depth ofthe cup of the mouthpiece, and measured in the direction of the axis ofsaid mouthpiece from top of the rim through the cup to the point wherecup and shank (or tube) meets and where the inside of the mouthpiecestarts to be narrowest, equals about the diameter of said cup.

The inside wall of the cup of said mouthpiece where the curvatures arelocated can be regarded as consisting of three sections. Section A isthe one next to the rim of the mouthpiece. Its curvature is concavetowards the axis of the mouthpiece. The radius of said curvature equalsonethird of the diameter of the cup of the mouthpiece. The opening orsegment of the curvature equals 60 starting from the top of the rim.Section B is the one next to section A. Its start coincides with the endof section A and has the same radius of curvature as section B, but inreverse. That is, its curvature is convex towards the axis of themouthpiece. The opening (or segment) of this curvature depends on theshape of section C, but it is not less than 30 nor more than 60 from itsstart. Section C is the connection between section B and the shank (ortube) of the mouthpiece. It may be suitably curved, convex, towards theaxis of the mouthpiece, thus giving the air more activity when throwninto the mouthpiece or it may be straight, if desired, giving the airsomewhat less activity. The latter depends on the character of theinstrument on which the mouthpiece is to be used.

In both cases however, section C ends in the shank (or tube) of themouthpiece and the width of the shank there, determines the width of theend of the cup.

The idea of this cup of a mouthpiece is to transform more of the spentenergy of the performer into sound when playing an instrument and toproduce a better, more harmonic sound by means of using sine curves anda constant curve in the construction of said cup, thus creating moreideal conditions for superposing vi bration impulses (compressions,rarefactions) of the air column in the cup, on the vibrations of thelips of the performer and impulses on impulses, of

the air column in the cup of the mouthpiece. Further to make more use ofthe air current from the lips of the performer, which forms smaller andone large current in the cup of the mouthpiece, for support of the lipsof the performer, so that the pressure of the rim of the cup of themouthpiece on the lips gets eased, thus providing better bloodcirculation in the lips of the performer.

An old rule for the position of th mouthpiece on the lips of theperformer is to place it in the center of the lip opening, two-thirds onone lip and one-third on the other lip. Furthermore the more producingpart of the mouth should get the two-thirds while the more reducing partof the. mouth (usually the lower jaw) should get the one-third. Thetongue, which closes the opening of the lips, performs a backwardmovement, and the air contained in the lungs andthroat, passes betweenthe lips into the cup of the mouthpiece and causes th lips to vibrate.Those vibrations cause compressions and rarefactions of the air columnin the cup. The escaping air current from the lips strikes the surfaceof the cup normally or nearl so, spreads out over the surface of the cupin the form of a current and meets opposite the axis of the cup andgives rise to a circular current of air, still having the impulses ofcompressions and rarefactions. Now due to the construction of the cup onthe one hand and the lips closing the cup on the other hand, said aircurrent forms, after being reflected from the surface of the cup, andafter having spent some of its energy in the form of support on thelips, superposed some of its vibration impulses (compression,rarefacticn) on the vibration of the lips, a so-called whirlpool occurs,getting compressed where opposite currents meet and rarefacted in theaxis of the cup and so passes through the axis of the cup into the stem,and instrument.

The air current in the cup thus has a longer way to go before enteringthe stem as it would have if it would pass from. the lips straight intothe stem. Therefore more vibration impulses get superposed, wideramplitudes occur.

In the improved cup, the sine curves and the constant curve are smoothcurves without abrupt endings and tend to reflect smoothly more of theair current towards the lips of the performer and so support them morethan it would be with other cups. Furthermore that constant curve is nohindrance for the air current to pass, after that so-called whirlpool,through the cup into the stem, because there is constant rarefaction ofthe air in the axis of the cup; the current tends to fill that up. Abetter resonance is possible and the standing sound waves in theinstrument more in harmony with the oncoming waves.

I have described several forms of my invention, but obviously variouschanges may be made in the details disclosed without departing from thespirit of the invention as set out in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A mouthpiece for cornets and the like, comprising a cup having anopen bore in a plane, and inner walls forming said cup in mirrorreverse, each of said walls formed of a circular conoidal concavesegment of a radius of curvature equal to one-third of the diameter ofsaid bore, the center of curvature being substantially at the pointpartitioning ofi said one third from one end of said diameter, saidsegment beginning at said plane and directly curving from said planedownwardly and terminating where the radius of curvature makes an angleof 60 with said plane, a second segment of convex circular curvature indownward continuation of said first segment, and a constant curve to theend of the cup, in downward continuation of said second segment.

2. A mouthpiece for cornets and the like, comprising a cup having anopen bore in a plane, and inner walls forming said cup in mirrorreverse, each of said walls formed of a circular conoidal concavesegment of a radius of curvature equal to one-third of the diameter ofsaid bore, the center of curvature being substantially at the pointpartitioning off said one third from one end of said diameter, saidsegment beginning at said plane and directly curving from said planedownwardly and terminating where the radius of curvature makes an angleof 60 with said plane, a second segment of convex circular curvature indownward continuation of said first segment, and a constant curve to theend of the cup, in downward continuation of said second segment, saidsecond segment having a radius of curvature equal to that of the firstsegment and corresponding to an angular movement of 30 to 45, andmerging at one end in the first segment and at the other end in theconstant curve, the first and second segment forming an ogee shapedcurve.

3. A mouthpiece for cornets and the like, comprisin a cup having an openbore in a plane, and inner walls forming said cup in mirror reverse,each of said walls formed of a circular conoidal concave segment of aradius of curvature equal to one-third of the diameter of said bore, thecenter of curvature being substantially at the point partitioning offsaid one-third from one end of said diameter, said segment beginning atsaid plane and directly curving from said plane downwardly andterminating where the radius of curvature makes'an angle of 60 with saidplane, a second segment of convex circular curvature in downwardcontinuation of said first segment, and a constant curve to the end ofthe cup, in downward continuation of said second segment, said secondsegment having a radius of curvature equal to that of the first segmentand corresponding to an angular movement of 30 to 45, and merging at oneend in the first segment and at the other end in the constant curve, thefirst and second segment forming an ogee shaped curve,

the longitudinal axis of the cup having a length equal to the internaldiameter of the cup at said plane, the connecting lines of the free endof the axis at the end of the cup and the termini of the diameterforming an angle of 53.

4. A mouthpiece for cornets and the like, comprising a cup having anopen bore in a plane, and inner walls forming said cup in mirrorreverse, each of said walls formed of a circular conoidal concavesegment of a radius of curvature-equal to one-third of the diameter ofsaid bore, the center of curvature being substantially at the pointpartitioning off said one third from one end of said diameter, saidsegment beginning at said plane and directly curving from said planedownwardly and terminating where the radius of curvature makes an angleof 60 with said plane, a second segment of convex circular curvature indownward continuation of said first segment, and a bore in downwardcontinuation of said second segment, formed of a constant diminishingdiameter extending from the end of said convex curvature to thebeginning of the stem.

JUSTIN RUET'I'IGE'R.

